Questions lingered for University of the Philippines on how they will replace the production they lost during the off season.
Two of its key players from UAAP Season 85 – Carl Tamayo (signed with Ryukyu) and Zavier Lucero (graduation) – had left.
The duo were pivotal in the Fighting Maroons’ championship run in Season 84 and in their silver finish a season later.
But UP was easily able to find their replacements after getting the commitment of La Salle Green Hills’ twin towers in 6-foot-8 Seven Gagate and 6-foot-7 Luis Pablo.
Moreover, they also got Filipino-American Sean Alter to fill the shoes left by burly big man Henry Galinato.
Safe to say, all is well in Diliman.
“Well, para sa akin ‘yung addition nila sa UP maging big boost ‘yun para sa lineup this year, this season,” said incoming third year Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
“Nakita natin ‘yung kakayahan nila ‘yung pagiging versatile nila. Hindi sila ‘yung parang big na play inside lang – they could play in the inside and the outside, they could dribble the ball.
“Kung iisipin natin sakto rin lang diba kasi si Carl [Tamayo] and Zavier [Lucero] would be out na rin for the season. So, ‘yung pagpasok nilang dalawa would be perfect fit para sa team.”
Losing Tamayo is a tough blow since he has been a fixture in Monteverde’s teams over the past decade.
But when one player leaves, it’s an opportunity for another one to rise. And they found themselves to creams of the crop.
“Ang surpresa lang actually ang nawala sa amin was si Carl, hindi supposedly mawawala pa si Carl, pero nung nawala siya, I’m really positive na ready mag step-up itong katulad nila Luis and Seven sa role na ibibgay sa kanila ni Coach Gold,” said UP head of basketball operations Bo Perasol.
“So, ako bilang program director, masaya ako dahil alam ko na mapupunuan ‘yung kakulangan dahil sa pag alis ng aming mga former players.”
The two do not feel pressure to fill the shoes of Tamayo and Lucero, though, saying that they are their own men.
“Hindi po siya pressure, it’s more on excitement po kasi alam ko naman po na iba po ‘yung vini-view sa amin ni coach. Kumbaga sa mga past players – ‘yung nga po kay Carl and Zavier – at our goal naman po is to do our roles na which is bibigay po sa amin,” expressed Pablo, who was hailed NCAA Season 98 MVP.
“Kung ano man po role po ‘yun, ang gusto lang po namin is ma-complete po namin ‘yung role para makatulong rin po talaga kami sa team kahit first year pa lang po kami. And para po rin maging maganda ‘yung resulta na hopefully mag-champion po kami.”
“Wala naman po. Ang [finofocus] ko lang ko po is gawin ko talaga ‘yung best para ma-fill in din ‘yung shoes po na [iniwan ng seniors], and para maging champion po ‘yung team, and ‘yun hard work lang po talaga. And no pressure naman po para sa akin,” shared Gagate, who was crown the Most Improved Player in Season 98.
